[Propertalk] READINGS for the SECOND SUNDAY in LENT

[Charles Wohlers]

The following are the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, March 17, 
according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman 
Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) 
lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard 
Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian 
and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.



OLD TESTAMENT:   Genesis 15: 1 - 12, 17 - 18   (all)

Gene 15:1 (NRSV) After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram 
in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward 
shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give 
me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Elie'zer of 
Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a 
slave born in my house is to be my heir." 4 But the word of the LORD 
came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own 
issue shall be your heir." 5 He brought him outside and said, "Look 
toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then 
he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed the 
LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.
7 Then he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the 
Chalde'ans, to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord 
GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him, "Bring 
me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three 
years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 He brought him all 
these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but 
he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on 
the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep 
and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a 
flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made 
a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, 
from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,


PSALM 27   (RCL)
Psalm 27: 1, 7 - 9, 13 - 14   (Roman Catholic)

Psal 27:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh--
my adversaries and foes--
they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!

Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above.


27   Dominus illuminatio   (ECUSA BCP)

1  	The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
  the Lord is the strength of my life;
  of whom then shall I be afraid?

2  	When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
  it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who
		stumbled and fell.

3  	Though an army should encamp against me, *
  yet my heart shall not be afraid;

4  	And though war should rise up against me, *
  yet will I put my trust in him.

5  	One thing have I asked of the Lord;
one thing I seek; *
  that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days
		of my life;

6  	To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *
  and to seek him in his temple.

7  	For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
		in his shelter; *
  he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
  and set me high upon a rock.

8  	Even now he lifts up my head *
  above my enemies round about me.

9  	Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness; *
  I will sing and make music to the Lord.

10  Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *
  have mercy on me and answer me.

11  You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *
  Your face, Lord, will I seek.

12  Hide not your face from me, *
  nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

13  You have been my helper;
cast me not away; *
  do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

14  Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
  the Lord will sustain me.

15  Show me your way, O Lord; *
  lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.

16  Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
  for false witnesses have risen up against me,
  and also those who speak malice.

17  What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the Lord *
  in the land of the living!

18  O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
  wait patiently for the Lord.


NEW TESTAMENT:   Philippians 3: 17 - 4: 1   (all)

Phil 3:17 (NRSV) Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe 
those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live 
as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and 
now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god 
is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on 
earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from 
there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will 
transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the 
body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things 
subject to himself. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love 
and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my 
beloved.

Note: Vs. 17-19 are optional in the Roman Catholic lectionary.


GOSPEL:   Luke 13: 31 - 35   (RCL)

Luke 13:31 (NRSV)  At that very hour some Phar'isees came and said to 
him, "Get away from here, for Her'od wants to kill you." 32 He said to 
them, "Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and 
performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my 
work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, 
because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of 
Jerusalem.' 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets 
and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather 
your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and 
you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, 
you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the 
one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"


Luke 9: 28 - 36   (alt. for RCL & Can. BAS, but not C of E or ECUSA)
Luke 9: 28b - 36   (Roman Catholic)

Luke 9:28 (NRSV) Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took 
with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 
29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his 
clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and 
Eli'jah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of 
his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now 
Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they 
had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 
33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is 
good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one 
for Moses, and one for Eli'jah"--not knowing what he said. 34 While he 
was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were 
terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice 
that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36 When the voice 
had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those 
days told no one any of the things they had seen.


-- 
Chad Wohlers
chadwohl at satucket.com
Woodbury, VT   USA